I'm a bit confused about the licesnsing and how you could fly for a living, is it hard to find jobs as a pilot? What excactly does the CPL/ATPL allow? What would the routes be just to fly private business planes, or commercial airlines planes? Do the hours gained flying a small plane really count towards getting a licence to fly for an airline?
A PPL allows Worldwide flying but no remuneration of the pilot (there may be some concessions i.e. Instruction)
A CPL allows you to be paid as a pilot but in order to fly a plane having more than one pilot you must have passed all the exams at ATPL level
ATPL allows you to be the PIC (Captain) of a Multi-Pilot aeroplane and requires at least 500 hours experience as a co-pilot first.
All flying hours count but experience may be crequired at different levels i.e. 500 hours multi-pilot to qualify for an ATPL.
You can still work your way up; its called the Modular route.